Students urge board to restore class rank access, expand after‑school care and fix school pedestrian safety

Students and parents at the Anne Arundel County Board of Education meeting pressed the district on several fronts, urging restored access to class rank, more equitable after‑school care in Annapolis, and immediate steps to improve pedestrian safety around schools.

Michelle Vidal, a senior at Chesapeake High School, told the board that removing class rank can “take away a tool that some students may benefit from, especially in competitive and academic scholarship spaces.” She asked the board to pursue a “balanced” change that preserves student well‑being while restoring options for students who rely on rank for scholarships and admissions.

Danielle Miller, a parent of two Georgetown East Elementary students, described the lack of consistent after‑school care in parts of the Annapolis cluster and asked the board and AACPS to advocate to the city and the Parks & Recreation department to fund and site additional after‑school locations. “After school care is an essential and necessary service for working families,” Miller said, and she requested a designated district liaison to coordinate with city officials.

Grayson Morgan, a parent who reviewed a district‑commissioned vehicle and pedestrian circulation analysis for South River High/Central Middle, urged “immediate recommendations” such as installing crosswalk striping and pedestrian crossing signage where they are missing. Morgan said he provided additional observations pro bono and asked the district to act on the study’s near‑term suggestions.

Student leaders also pressed the board on how it treats student civic engagement. Ethan Miville, student‑body president at Arundel High, described organizing a multi‑school protest and asked the board to revisit a vague rule that he said “bans student‑led protests.” “All I’m asking today is that you revisit this rule and work to ensure that teachers and administrators who care about the safety of students collaborate and cooperate with student leaders concerning school protests,” he said.

Why it matters: These comments touch on scholarship access, family supports and daily safety for students — issues that affect families across the county. Several speakers asked the board to take specific follow‑up steps (advocacy to city officials, liaison designation, implementing crosswalks), creating clear actions for district staff and elected members to consider.

The board did not take immediate policy action during public comment; related policy items (grading/class‑rank policy and the 2027–28 calendar) were on the agenda for later discussion and votes.